The largest shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine was rocketed during business hours, filled with families getting kids ready for back to school.
Imagine if this was a mall in your community. You’ve seen them at this time of year. Moms and kids out buying back to school supplies.
Jocelyn and I were in that mall last summer. A mall bustling with moms and little kids.
In a “double tap” that the Russians have become famous for, drones killed 16 civilians, wounded 141, including 23 children. Russia launched an initial attack and 30 minutes later when first responders were at the rescue, they launched a second “tap.”
Imagine being a first responder in Ukraine.
Imagine being a mom.
“It was the worst day of my life, without exaggeration.” Olha said, in a monotone. “My child got hurt.” She and her daughter were in the mall when the first Russian drone hit. 
No Time To React
“We were there, wanted to buy school uniform, maybe some stationery, some snacks” she continued, in the same deceptively calm tone. “Then we heard the air raid siren through the loudspeaker. It hit right when we were at the checkout.”
There’s a plaster bandage on her left ear. Another bandage covers her right knee.
Blood seeped through it.
“It was scary, we fell, some time we were just sitting there, and then we got up and ran through the service entrance, Silpo store has one. (Slipo is equivalent to Walmart) There the Silpo employee picked up my little girl and carried her out, and there we were met by complete strangers who just put us in a car and took us to the hospital.”
Margo Gontar on Social Media
I follow Margo Gontar, daily as she shares reports from across Ukraine with her 51,000 followers on X. On August 22nd she posted about the attack in Kryvyi Rih.
“Earlier today (I) read (about) a Ukrainian asking on socials to help her find her mom after Russia bombed the shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih. People offered advice, support and wished her to find her mother soon. Just saw her update. ‘Mommy is dead, thanks to everyone for trying to help’.
“I don’t know what to do, with all of this. That’s why I share.
So my people don’t suffer in silence.
Because no one should suffer in silence.
Because Russia must pay for all of this.”
Screenshot
Three more Ukrainian cities have been recognized as an “active combat zone”. What this means is the war is growing. This designation covers hundreds of cities, towns, and villages across the eastern and southern regions.
August 26th was the worst assault x10 since the war started. Rocket attacks that started at 12:00am on the 26th and continued until after 7:00pm. Unprecedented.
There is a growing consensus that Russia will coordinate attacks to destroy Ukrainian power and heat sources to make this winter unbearable across Ukraine. Last winter was bad enough with citizens in Kyiv living in apartments with temperatures around 7C on the inside. Pipes freezing. Forced to go outside to shelter in temporary warming tents. Unthinkable.
Jocelyn and I plan to be in Ukraine in less than three months for three weeks.
Some people consider that crazy. It will be dangerous. But in no way are we heroes. Our friends there are the heroes. And they don’t even want to be called heroes. They just want to be free and at peace.
Our going is a signal of hope that we are trusting for better days ahead. Of God intervening and sparing Ukrainians.
Pray for our friends today and for us as we prepare. Thank you.
And please post a prayer or a comment for our friends in Ukraine. I will translate them and send them to our pastors.
Hope grows here. We share stories that inspire people, build faith, and offer lasting purpose.
We’d love to have you Subscribe to REVwords. We’ll put helpful content into your inbox Mondays and Fridays.
Screenshot
